Sydney Moore 4th Hour Humanities 5-19-14 Introduction
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a writer in the Danish "golden age." He wrote about philosophy, theology, psychology, literary criticism, devotional literature, and fiction. He is known as "that individual" and he wrote himself being "like a lonely pine tree, egoistically shut off, pointing to the skies."
Biography
Kierkegaard was born on May 5, 1813 in Copenhagen. He was the youngest of seven siblings. His father influenced him by his religious ways. He studied philosophy, theology, and literature at the University of Copenhagen. His mother died in 1834 and his father in 1838. In 1840, he was engaged to Regine Olsen. He broke the engagement claiming it hindered his philosophical calling. Later, he withdrew into seclusion for ten years doing writing and publishing. Kierkegaard got diagnosed with a spinal disease. Within that month he died on November 11, 1855.
Kierkegaard's Philosophy
Kierkegaard believes that religious belief holds a matter of passion instead of reason. He also believes that to truly believe you have to take a leap of faith. Kierkegaard thought you should look at the individual instead of the crowd. He is known as The Father of Existentialism. The definition of existentialism is a philosophical attitude that stresses the individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for the authenticity of his or her choices. He had three literary stages about the life's ways: the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious. Most of his writings fall under the religious stage.
Major Works
Either-or, volumes 1 and 2
Fear and trembling
Philosophical fragments
The concept of dread
Sickness unto death
Interesting Quotes
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
Søren Kierkegaard
Sydney Moore4th Hour Humanities
5-19-14
Introduction
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a writer in the Danish "golden age." He wrote about philosophy, theology, psychology, literary criticism, devotional literature, and fiction. He is known as "that individual" and he wrote himself being "like a lonely pine tree, egoistically shut off, pointing to the skies."
Biography
Kierkegaard was born on May 5, 1813 in Copenhagen. He was the youngest of seven siblings. His father influenced him by his religious ways. He studied philosophy, theology, and literature at the University of Copenhagen. His mother died in 1834 and his father in 1838. In 1840, he was engaged to Regine Olsen. He broke the engagement claiming it hindered his philosophical calling. Later, he withdrew into seclusion for ten years doing writing and publishing. Kierkegaard got diagnosed with a spinal disease. Within that month he died on November 11, 1855.
Kierkegaard's Philosophy
Kierkegaard believes that religious belief holds a matter of passion instead of reason. He also believes that to truly believe you have to take a leap of faith. Kierkegaard thought you should look at the individual instead of the crowd. He is known as The Father of Existentialism. The definition of existentialism is a philosophical attitude that stresses the individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for the authenticity of his or her choices. He had three literary stages about the life's ways: the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious. Most of his writings fall under the religious stage.
Major Works
Interesting Quotes
Sources
McDonald, William, "Søren Kierkegaard", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2012/entries/kierkegaard/>.
Stokes, Philip. Philosophy, 100 Essential Thinkers. New York: Enchanted Lion, 2003. Print.
Collinson, Diané. Fifty Major Philosophers: A Reference Guide. London: Routledge, 1988. Print.
Magee, Bryan. The Story of Philosophy. New York: DK Pub., 1998. Print.
"Soren Kierkegaard Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore. Web. 20 May 2014.
"Existentialism." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 20 May 2014.
Westphal, Merold. "Stages on Life's Way." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 20 May 2014.
"Søren Kierkegaard - Biography." Søren Kierkegaard. Web. 20 May 2014.